Wilma Shakespear


Wilma Joyce Shakespear AM is a former Australian netball player and coach and leading sport administrator.

Playing career

Shakespear as a defender made her debut for Australia on 5 August 1963. She was the second youngest member of the Australian team that won the 1963 World Netball Championships, the inaugural championship. She represented Australia seven times.

Coaching career

Shakespear coached the Australia national netball team at three world championships: gold medal in 1971 Jamaica, gold medal in 1979 Trinidad & Tobago and silver medal in 1987 Glasgow. She was appointed the inaugural Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport's netball program in 1981, a position she held until 1990. Whilst Head Coach, the AIS netball program developed many Australian players including: Catriona Wagg, Liz Ellis, Sue Kenny, Nicole Cusack, Carissa Tombs and Vicki Wilson.
Shakespear authored the netball coaching book: Netball : steps to success in 1979.

Sports administration career

After leaving her position as AIS Netball Head Coach, Shakespear took up a position as manager of the elite sports programs at the AIS. Shakespear was appointed the inaugural Director of the Queensland Academy of Sport in 1991. In October 2001, she was appointed the inaugural Director of the English Institute of Sport, a position she held her resignation in September 2008.

Recognition

Shakespear is married to 1972 and 1976 Australian Olympic rower and coach Peter Shakespear.